Regulated intake means

ABSTRACT

A regulated intake apparatus for providing a means for a person to regulate a rate of intake of liquid such as water over an extended time period. The first regulated intake means ( 11 ) can include a first and second gauging means for use by the user depending on whether the bottle is the first of the day or the second of the day. The first gauging means includes a timing period being morning as identified by indicator (AM) at ( 31 ) and further including graduated markings ( 32 ) down the bottle. However those graduated markings are predetermined time intervals but are identified by hours in the morning which in this case are indicated as (8 AM) down to (12) Midday and to (1 PM). Due to the bottle ( 15 ) being substantially transparent, the level of the water remaining is clearly determinable. However instead of needing to undertake any calculations the first gauging means ( 31, 32 ) shows that by (8 AM) the volume from the top to this marking should have been consumed. Graduated volumes should then be consumed hourly according to the graduated markings ( 32 ) down the bottle till (1 PM) while the remaining volume below this marking should be consumed by (2 PM).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a regulated intake means and a method ofindicating and regulating fluid intake. It is particularly related to adrink means but is not limited to such.

BACKGROUND

To this day, there have been numerous studies undertaken to suggestrecommended intake of foods for healthy living. However, a primaryconsideration is the liquid intake, and in particular the water intake,of a person to maintain an hydration regime.

Such an intake is seen to be required to fulfil healthy living. Thestudies have shown there is a recommended daily intake (RDI) or anadequate intake (AI). However it is particularly difficult for people tofulfil the daily intake as they only think about the necessity possiblyonce a day. At that time they then need to drink a substantial quantityat one time. It is therefore preferable if there was a way of assistinga person to fulfil a regular RDI of water.

It should be noted that the RDI is further complicated due to the sex ofthe person, the metabolism of the person, or the work place or exertionlevel of the user. It is therefore of a further importance to assist aperson to achieve a recommended rate of intake of liquids overpredetermined time periods.

For example in one US study the RDI or AI for hydration, which issimilar to Australia in that they differ between men and women, but aredifferent to the US in their actual values. Conveniently they work outto approximately 2×1.1 litres for women, and 2×1.5 litres for men.

However it should be further noted that the required hydration regimecould be the RDI as made suitable in different countries or fordifferent groups of users but it could merely be the AI (adequateintake). Therefore throughout this document the RDI or RDI* (related toparticular country or group of people) or the AI are interchangeable forthe purpose of this invention, as the research to date is not sufficientfor RDI for water intake (however there may be a RDI for other liquidbased items).

Referring to an Australian study the RDI or more particularly AI isdifferent to the US results. Recommendations in the Nutrient ReferenceValues publication for Australia and New Zealand updated in September2005, has determined AIs. Investigation of recommended daily fluidintake revealed men and women to have different requirements with a baselevel hydration of:

-   -   Men aged 19 and over—3.4 litres per day; and    -   Women aged 19 and over—2.8 litres per day.

The research supporting the above recommendation also revealed 25% ofthe amounts are typically achieved through food intake, suggesting theamounts to be achieved by fluid intake are:

-   -   Men aged 19 and over—2.55 litres per day; and    -   Women aged 19 and over—2.1 litres per day.

Clearly as there is no single level of water intake that would ensureadequate hydration and optimal health, figures are estimated by use ofmedian population intakes in Australia. That means though that a largeproportion of people do not have an adequate level and cannot readilyachieve such levels. Others cannot maintain a regime to have a goodhydration level at most times.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an apparatus andmethod of assisting a person regulating their rate of intake of liquidto overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the problems of theprior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention there is provided a regulated intakeapparatus for providing a means of a person regulating their rate ofintake of liquid such as water, the apparatus including:

-   -   a container having a volume related to the users expected intake        over a particular time period;    -   a gauging means for statically indicating the remaining        contents;    -   wherein the gauging means includes a time indication such that        the user can determine the remaining volume and the remaining        time to achieve consumption of the remaining volume.

In one form the gauging means includes a time indicator having intervalspredetermined to a predetermined rate of consumption over the particulartime period.

The expected intake over a particular time period can be an RDI. Therebythe rate is an average recommended daily rate of consumption.

The volume of the container can be the RDI. However preferably it is adivisional amount of the RDI such that the container has a handycarryable volume. In one particular form the RDI for a man can be 2550millilitres and the bottle can have a volume with a half of the RDI.

However the gauging means can include a time indicator such that theuser need not assess the time to go and quantity to go but merelyreviewing the quantity left indicates if the right quantity has beenconsumed to present time.

The time indicator can be an hourly clock indicator beginning atpredefined starting time to a predefined end time.

If the container has a volume that is a proportional amount thecontainer can include a plurality of gauging means to represent the morethan one time period. In the usage of a bottle in the having half theRDI there can be a first half of the day time indicator and a secondhalf day time indicator such that the user can readily assess the timerate left of consumption if in the first or second half of the day.

Time periods can also be displayed according to the time usage of theuser. For example swimmers often start early in the day and thereforecould have a time period starting at 4.00 am. Tradesman or shiftworkersstart at different times to the 9 to 5 clerical or office workers andtherefore different or adjustable indicators can be used on the gaugingmeans.

The time indicator can be marked on the container, or moulded into thecontainer or included on a label affixable to the container in such away to match the contents of the container at a recommended rate ofconsumption.

Preferably the time indicator is an even rate over the time period.

However the predetermined rate can include fluctuations that arerecommended in the intake over a predetermined period including less inthe morning or less at meals or other variations. This can result inlinear and non-linear (varied) rates of consumption.

In one particularly preferred embodiment there is provided a translucentcontainer to allow ready viewing of the internal quantity of the liquidin the container. More preferably the container is transparentparticularly when used with transparent liquids such as water.

The apparatus can further include an indicator means for indicating therecommended user for providing a means for that user to regulate theirrate of intake of liquid such as water.

The indicator means can be a colour indicator such that differentcolours are indicative of the user that is to use the regulated intakeapparatus. For example a standard man user can have a predeterminedindicator that matches a proportional amount of the RDI of that manperson. A different indicator for a standard woman user can have apredetermined indicator that matches a proportional amount of the RDI ofthat woman person.

Still further there can be different indicators for different hydrationrequirements of users. Such that a user undertaking high daily exertionor experiencing high temperatures could have a higher RDI and thereforea different indicator will indicate the apparatus with the relevantquantity and gauging means for that user.

Preferably the volume of the container is modified for the particularindicated user to more easily provide the differing RDI quantity ofliquids.

A list of user variations in hydration can include but not limited to:

Age; Sex; Environment;

Physical activity;

Pregnancy; Lactation; and Illness.

The invention also provides a method of indicating and regulating fluidintake including the steps of:

-   -   providing a container with a volume that is related to a        recommended intake of liquid;    -   providing a gauging means on the container for indicating the        recommended rate of consumption of the liquid;    -   comparing actual time with the time indicated at the level of        liquid remaining in the container and thereby determining if at        the recommended rate of intake;    -   abstaining from or undertaking consumption of the remaining        liquid to substantially match the time indicated at the level of        liquid remaining in the container with the actual time; and    -   repeating comparison and consumption steps over regular        intervals to maintain the recommended rate of intake of the        liquid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention can be more readily understood embodimentswill be described by way of illustration only with reference to thedrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of a regulated intake means in accordancewith a first embodiment for use by women;

FIG. 2 is an illustrative view of a regulated intake means in accordancewith a first embodiment for use by men;

FIG. 3 is an illustrative view of a regulated intake means in accordancewith a third embodiment for use by men in a non linear intake to caterfor optimum hydration times;

FIG. 4 is an illustrative view of a regulated intake means in accordancewith a fifth embodiment for use by men according to different consumerlifestyles; and

FIG. 5 is an illustrative view of a regulated intake means in accordancewith a fourth embodiment for use by sports people relative to theirsporting activity

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings there is shown an embodiment of a regulatedintake apparatus for providing a means of a person regulating the rateof intake of liquid such as water. The method is particularly related toproviding water provided in separately purchased disposable bottles butcould be applied to refillable bottles.

As shown in FIG. 1 there is provided a first regulated intake means 11being a plastic substantially transparent bottle 15 with dispensing“pop-top” lid 16 for containing water or sports drink or the likerelated to a particular hydration necessity or regulated liquid intake.

This first regulated intake means 11 is for women and is so indicated byindicator means 21 being a symbol on the front label. A furtherindicator can be a coloured lid 16 such as a pink lid or some otherindication means including other writing in pink or other determinablecolour.

The usage suitable for women is not merely choice but is related to apredetermined user's expected intake 24 over an expected time period.This can be the recommended daily intake RDI. The RDI therefore has aneffect on the volume to be consumed and therefore the volume 23 of thebottle 15 of the first regulated intake means 11 for women is aparticular handy divisional amount of that RDI. In this case as the RDIfor women is 2200 ml per day then the handy volume is half being a 1100ml bottle and thereby requiring two bottles of water per day for womento meet their RDI. However using the Australian figures of Women aged 19and over—2.1 litres per day two bottles of 1.0 litres can be sufficient.

However apart from assisting the user in determining and obtaining thecorrect total consumption of water per day to maintain an effectivehydration regime, the first regulated intake means 11 for women alsoassists the consumption of the water by providing assistance in steadyconsumption over an extended period.

The first regulated intake means 11 for women further includes a firstand second gauging means for use by the user depending on whether thebottle is the first of the day or the second of the day. The firstgauging means includes a timing period being morning as identified byindicator AM at 31 and further including graduated markings 32 down thebottle. However those graduated markings are predetermined timeintervals but are identified by hours in the morning which in this caseare indicated as 8 AM down to 12 Midday and to 1 PM. Due to the bottle15 being substantially transparent, the level of the water remaining isclearly determinable. However instead of needing to undertake anycalculations the first gauging means 31, 32 shows that by 8 AM thevolume from the top to this marking should have been consumed. Graduatedvolumes should then be consumed hourly according to the graduatedmarkings 32 down the bottle till 1 PM while the remaining volume belowthis marking should be consumed by 2 PM.

The second gauging means 35, 36 is also located on the bottle on theother side of the label and primarily relates to an afternoonconsumption with a timing period being identified by indicator PM at 35and further including graduated markings 36 down the bottle. Thesegraduated markings are predetermined time intervals but are identifiedby hours in the afternoon which in this case are indicated as 3 PM downto 8 PM. The second gauging means 35, 36 shows that by 3 PM the volumefrom the top to this marking should have been consumed. Graduatedvolumes should then be consumed hourly according to the graduatedmarkings 36 down the bottle till 8 PM while the remaining volume belowthis marking should be consumed by end of day.

Referring to FIG. 2 there is shown a second regulated intake means 12also being a plastic substantially transparent bottle 17 with dispensing“pop-top” lid 16 for containing water or sports drink or the likerelated to a particular hydration necessity or regulated liquid intake.

This second regulated intake means 12 is for men and is so indicated byindicator means 22 being a symbol on the front label. A furtherindicator can be a coloured lid 16 such as a blue lid or some otherindication means including other writing in blue or other determinablecolour.

The usage suitable for men is related to a predetermined user's expectedintake 24 over an expected time period. This can be the recommendeddaily intake RDI. The RDI therefore has an effect on the volume to beconsumed and therefore the volume 23 of the bottle 17 of the secondregulated intake means 12 for men is a particular handy divisionalamount of that RDI. In this case as the RDI for men is 3000 ml per daythen the handy volume is half being a 1500 ml bottle and therebyrequiring two bottles of water per day for men to meet their RDI.However using the Australian figures of men aged 19 and over—2.55 litresper day two bottles of 1.25 litres can be sufficient.

Similar related features to the first regulated intake means for women11 are included in the second regulated intake means for men 12.

It can thereby be seen that a hydration regime is maintained byproviding a container with a volume that is related to a recommendedintake of liquid, providing a gauging means on the container forindicating the recommended rate of consumption of the liquid, comparingactual time with the time indicated at the level of liquid remaining inthe container and thereby determining if ahead or behind recommendedrate of intake, abstaining from or undertaking consumption of theremaining liquid to substantially match the time indicated at the levelof liquid remaining in the container with the actual time, and repeatingcomparison and consumption steps over regular intervals to maintain therecommended rate of intake of the liquid.

In a variation shown in FIG. 3 there is a non linear scale to cater foroptimum hydration times. This can include greater intake upon rising andbefore retiring, and little intake around meals. Other non linear scalescan be predetermined due to health or activity regimes. Different scalescan apply on either side of the apparatus to allow for changingconditions or circumstances.

In FIG. 4 there is shown a choice of scale to cater for variations inconsumer lifestyle such as being an early riser and therefore requiringa pre 5 am period and hourly thereafter. Similarly night shift workerscan use the apparatus under the moon scale where they might workdifferent hours. General predetermined categories can be identified forlabourers working 8 am to 3 pm or midnight to dawn workers and thereforeit is possible for the consumer to have an apparatus that allows fortheir required choice of scale. The reference to “1 of 2” refers to thebottle being sized to be half the required intake and labelled by beingthe first of two bottles.

Referring to FIG. 5 there is shown an event based apparatus so thatinstead of the clock based system of the first and second gauging meansof FIGS. 1 and 2 this includes a relative time component rather than theabsolute time. In this example the event is not time limited butseparated into four quarters and a pre event period 2 hours before theevent and a final after event rehydration periods. Therefore on otherevents the use of the scale on sports waters etc, could show somethinglike t−30 t+30 t+60 t+90 (where t is the exercise start time and the 30,60, 90 reflect minutes from this point), rather than the actual time ofday, as per the base hydration products. Whilst sports hydration is bestto be based upon post-event weight loss for an individual, generalguidelines recommend drinking a substantial amount 2 hours before theevent, then drinking regularly (every 15-20 minutes) throughout theactivity to maintain hydration levels.

While we have described herein a particular embodiment of a regulatedintake means, it is further envisaged that other embodiments of theinvention could exhibit any number and combination of any one of thefeatures previously described. However, it is to be understood that anyvariations and modifications can be made without departing from thespirit and scope thereof.

For example the system can be for bottled water and bottled drinks aswell as for refillable drink bottles. It can include a means ofadministering vitamins, minerals or pharmaceuticals particularly ifusing a fluid to administer them in a regulated intake.

It is also possible to start the timescale further down the bottle andlater in the day (as well as ending higher up and earlier in theevening) as has the advantages of accommodating variances in user dailyroutines as well as supporting hydration guidelines that recommend alarger drink upon rising and before retiring to bed.

1. A regulated intake apparatus for providing a means for a person toregulate a rate of intake of liquid such as water over an extended timeperiod, the apparatus including: a. a container having a volume relatedto the user's expected intake over a particular time period; b. agauging means providing graduations for statically indicating theremaining contents; c. the gauging means including a time indicationassociated with the graduations; wherein the user can readily observethe remaining volume and the remaining time to achieve consumption ofthe remaining volume according to a predetermined rate of intake.
 2. Aregulated intake apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the gaugingmeans includes a time indicator scale having the time indicationassociated with the graduations forming time intervals associated to apredetermined rate of consumption over the extended time period.
 3. Aregulated intake apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the expectedintake over a particular time period can be a recommended daily intake(RDI) such that the gauging means includes a time indicator havingintervals predetermined to a predetermined rate of consumptioncorresponds to the rate of the average recommended daily rate ofconsumption.
 4. A regulated intake apparatus according to claim 1wherein the volume of the container can be the RDI.
 5. A regulatedintake apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a divisional amount of theRDI such that the container has a handy carryable volume.
 6. A regulatedintake apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the RDI for a man can beabout 2550 millilitres and the bottle can have a volume with about halfof the RDI.
 7. A regulated intake apparatus according to claim 1 whereinthe gauging means includes a time indicator relating to the time of daysuch that the user need not assess the time to go and quantity to go butmerely reviewing the quantity left at a time of day indicates if theright quantity has been consumed to present time according to thepredetermined rate of consumption.
 8. A regulated intake apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein the time indicator is an hourly clockindicator.
 9. A regulated intake apparatus according to claim 1 whereinthe container has a volume that is a proportional amount to the volumerelated to the user's expected intake over a particular extended timeperiod at a predetermined rate of consumption and the apparatus includesa plurality of gauging means to represent more than one time periodwherein the container can be used for one or more of the proportionalparts of the extended time period and a different one of the time gaugescan provide the remaining volume and the remaining time to achieveconsumption of the remaining volume according to the predetermined rateof intake for that particular proportion of the time period.
 10. Aregulated intake apparatus according to claim 9 wherein in the usage ofa bottle having half the RDI there is a first gauging means for half ofthe day with related time indicator and a second gauging means forsecond half of the day with related time indicator such that the usercan readily assess the time rate left of consumption if in the first orsecond half of the day.
 11. A regulated intake apparatus according toclaim 1 wherein time period expended from or to or during an event timeare displayed according to the time usage of the user.
 12. A regulatedintake apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the time indicator ismarked on the container.
 13. A regulated intake apparatus according toclaim 1 wherein the time indicator is moulded into the container.
 14. Aregulated intake apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the timeindicator is included on a label affixable to the container in such away to match the contents of the container at a recommended rate ofconsumption.
 15. A regulated intake apparatus according to claim 1wherein the time indicator is an even rate over the time period.
 16. Aregulated intake apparatus according to claim 1 wherein thepredetermined rate can include fluctuations that are recommended in theintake over a predetermined period including less in the morning or lessat meals or other variations which can result in linear or non-linear(varied) rates of consumption.
 17. A regulated intake apparatusaccording to claim 1 having a translucent container to allow readyviewing of the internal quantity of the liquid in the container.
 18. Aregulated intake apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the container istransparent particularly when used with transparent liquids such aswater.
 19. A regulated intake apparatus according to claim 1 wherein theapparatus includes an indicator means for indicating the recommendeduser for providing a means for that user to regulate their rate ofintake of liquid such as water.
 20. A regulated intake apparatusaccording to claim 19 wherein the indicator means is a colour indicatorsuch that different colours are indicative of a different category ofuser that is to use the regulated intake apparatus such as a standardman user can have a predetermined indicator that matches a proportionalamount of the RDI for a man and a different indicator for a standardwoman user can have a predetermined indicator that matches aproportional amount of the RDI for a woman.
 21. A regulated intakeapparatus according to claim 19 wherein different indicators are fordifferent hydration requirements of users, such that a user undertakinghigh daily exertion or experiencing high temperatures could have ahigher RDI and therefore a different indicator will indicate theapparatus with the relevant quantity and gauging means for that user.22. A regulated intake apparatus according to claim 19 wherein thevolume of the container is modified for the particular indicated user tomore easily provide the differing RDI quantity of liquids.
 23. Aregulated intake apparatus according to claim 19 wherein differentindicators are for different hydration requirements of users include oneor more but not limited to: a. Age; b. Sex; c. Environment; d. Physicalactivity; e. Pregnancy; f. Lactation; and g. Illness.
 24. A method ofindicating and regulating fluid intake including the steps of: a.providing a container with a volume that is related to a recommendedintake of liquid; b. providing a gauging means on the container forindicating spaced time intervals relative to the level of liquidremaining at that level to provide a predetermined recommended rate ofconsumption of the liquid; c. comparing actual time with the timeindicated at the level of liquid remaining in the container and therebydetermining if user is consuming at the recommended rate of intake; d.abstaining from or undertaking consumption of the remaining liquid tosubstantially match the time indicated at the level of liquid remainingin the container with the actual time; and e. repeating comparison andconsumption steps over regular intervals to maintain the recommendedrate of intake of the liquid.
 25. A method of indicating and regulatingfluid intake according to claim 24 wherein the time indicated on thegauging means includes a time indicator relating to the time of day suchthat the user need not assess the time to go and quantity to go butmerely reviewing the quantity left at a time of day indicates if theright quantity has been consumed to present time according to thepredetermined rate of consumption.
 26. A method of indicating andregulating fluid intake according to claim 24 wherein the time indicatedon the gauging means is a relative time to an event.
 27. A method ofindicating and regulating fluid intake according to claim 24 wherein thetime indicated on the gauging means is an event portion time.
 28. Amethod of manufacture of a regulated intake apparatus including thesteps of: a. determining a hydration regime for a user, group of usersor type of user; b. selecting a container with a volume that is relatedto a recommended intake of liquid; c. creating a scale relating thedetermined hydration regime with the selected container; d. forming agauging means providing graduations for statically indicating theremaining contents the gauging means including a time indicationassociated with the graduations; wherein in use with the gauging meansassociated with the selected container the user can readily observe theremaining volume and the remaining time to achieve consumption of theremaining volume according to a predetermined rate of intake
 29. Aregulated intake apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described withreference to the drawings.
 30. A method of indicating and regulatingfluid intake substantially as hereinbefore described with reference tothe drawings.
 31. A method of manufacture of a regulated intakeapparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to thedrawings.